The chronology
1841
Overview
In Beloit itself, 1841 saw the arrival of new settlers and the establishment of early institutions. Jared Randall built the first frame house in the village, Field & Lusk kept the largest stock of goods for sale, and W. Lawrence established the first debating society. Religious congregations took shape: a band of Episcopalians was organized in Mr. Humphrey's house (dated February 26 or 28), the Beloit Bible Society was organized on March 22, the First Baptist Church was organized on April 24 (or May 1 by one passage) with fourteen members, and Elder Stillman Coon returned on July 1 and settled among his congregation. Schools were taught in winter by Dr. Rollin Head and Daniel Nurse, Rev. David Smith's ministry ended, and a settler arriving in October found about three hundred inhabitants, all on the east side of the river. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+6 more)
In Rock County more broadly, the commissioners took measures for a court house in February, and the first court house in Janesville was completed in December, described as a two-story frame (one chronology lists it under 1842). Janesville gained a Methodist class in the spring, and the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Janesville was organized with Rev. Alpha Warren as pastor. Harrison Stebbins opened the first select school in Janesville in the fall or beginning of 1842, Williston was elected Register of Deeds and removed to Janesville, and Gould and Young built the dam across the Yahara (Catfish) and began a saw-mill. A settler found bogus coinage tools in a grove near the head of the south branch of Bass Creek in the fall, naming it 'Bogus.' ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+4 more)
At the territorial and national level, Congress approved the pre-emption law and a 500,000-acre land grant in September, President Tyler appointed James Duane Doty governor of the Territory on September 13 (or September 30 by one passage), and Henry Dodge was elected delegate to Congress, taking his seat on December 7. The Government sent a military detachment to enforce the removal of the Rock River Winnebagoes beyond the Mississippi. Norwegian settlers recorded quarter-section land entries through the year, including Lars Halvorsen (Skavlem) in June, Paul Halvorsen, Nils Oleson (Vegli-Wagley), and Gunnel Halgorsen in September, Gubrand Oleson in October, and Margaret Oles Dater and Erek Gulbeitson later that month. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+5 more)
Month by month
- Winter 1841The first school in the locality was taught in part of the house of William B. Foster by Dr. Rollin Head.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Winter 1841School teaching terms spanning 1842: Daniel Nurse taught the school in the winter of 1841-42, and Mr. Benedict taught in the winter of 1842-43 (a term beginning in late 1842).BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Winter 1841The first civil office in the town of Center (the part of old Center later called Plymouth) was filled by appointment from the Governor and Council.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Winter 1841The first civil office in the town of Center (now Plymouth) was filled by appointment from the Governor and Council.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 1841Israel Cheney, county treasurer, reported the previous year's collections and expenditures.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 25, 1841Dunn was commissioned as secretary of the Territory in place of William B. Slaughter.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 1841The county commissioners took measures for the erection of a court house.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 26, 1841A band of Episcopalians was organized in Mr. Humphrey's own house; another passage dates the organization of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church to February 28, 1841.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1841W. Wood came to Rock County, locating in Harmony, Sec. 1.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1841The town of Plymouth was first settled (David Douglass, Stephen C. and others); David Douglas entered 880 acres, built the first log house in the township, and cleared land.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1841A small "Methodist Class" was formed in Janesville; Rev. Julius Field held the first quarterly meeting in Janesville and formed a class.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- April 4, 1841A settler arrived in Beloit on a Sunday morning, having walked from Racine in the spring of 1841.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 24, 1841The First Baptist Church of Beloit was organized with fourteen members; one passage instead dates its constitution to May 1, 1841.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 4, 1841A quarter-section entry was recorded for Lars Halvorsen (Skavlem).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 1, 1841Elder Stillman Coon returned and settled among his congregation; he is also listed as their first pastor from 1841.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 12, 1841A quarter-section entry was recorded for Geesley Saberson Hollen.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 1841Silas and Cynthia Hurd arrived in Rock county, settling in a log cabin on the Rock river east of Indian Ford.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 1841The William Smith family came to Rock County.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- September 4, 1841Congress approved an act granting 500,000 acres of land to the state; one passage gives the approval date as September 14, 1841.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 4, 1841Congress approved the pre-emption law.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 13, 1841President Tyler appointed James Duane Doty governor of the Territory in place of Dodge; another passage gives the appointment date as September 30, 1841.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 15, 1841Quarter-section entries were recorded for Paul Halvorsen (Skavlem), Nils Oleson (Vegli-Wagley) (two entries), and Gunnel Halgorsen.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 27, 1841Henry Dodge was elected delegate to Congress, filling the vacancy caused by Doty's appointment; one passage gives the date as September 30, 1841.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 1841A settler came to Beloit, which then had about three hundred inhabitants, all on the east side of the river.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1841Rollin Thorpe came to Rock County and purchased 160 acres in Sec. 11, Town 4, Range 13.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1841A settler accidentally found a dilapidated set of bogus coinage tools in a grove near the head of the south branch of Bass Creek, which he named "Bogus."Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1841Reuben Winston came to Wisconsin and located in Porter, Rock Co.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 7, 1841A quarter-section entry was recorded for Gubrand Oleson.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 22, 1841Quarter-section entries were recorded for Margaret Oles Dater (Mrs. Gullik Springen) and Erek Gulbeitson.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 1841An academy was opened at Southport (now Kenosha).The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 1841Williston removed from Harmony Township to Janesville, having been elected Register of Deeds that year.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 1841The first court house in Janesville was completed; passages describe it as a two-story frame erected in 1841, while one chronology lists the court house under 1842.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- December 7, 1841Henry Dodge took his seat in Congress for the first time.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
During 1841
Events the sources date only to the year.
- 1841The Government sent a military detachment to enforce the removal of the Rock River Winnebagoes beyond the Mississippi.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841A Beloit settler went to Michigan in 1841 and then came to Wisconsin, locating at Beloit.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841Messrs. Gould and Young built the dam across the Yahara (Catfish) and began to build a saw-mill.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841A family came to Rock Co. and settled on 240 acres in Clinton and 120 acres in Turtle.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841A Milton Junction settler settled on his homestead on Sec. 19.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841A Clinton settler located on Sec. 22, purchasing 253 acres.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841The first schoolhouse in the settlement was built about a mile and a half west of the present site of Evansville, under the control of Miss Mary Jane True.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841A settler came to Rock Co. and settled with his father's family in the town of Turtle.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841Messrs. Field & Lusk kept the largest stock of goods for sale in the town.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841Mr. Willard was in Beloit, living for a time in the house of Samuel B. Cooper.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841The Protestant Episcopal church established a mission in Waukesha county.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841Mr. Jared Randall built the first frame house in the village.BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- 1841The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Janesville was organized, with Rev. Alpha Warren as pastor; Janesville first appears in the minutes as head of a charge.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841John Winston settled in Union and engaged in mercantile business.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841Thomas W. Sutherland succeeded Moses M. Strong as United States attorney.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1841An Evansville, Ind., firm sold out its business and engaged in milling and wholesale produce.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source